Traore tempted to stay with Pompey?

Armand Traore has been a hit during his loan spell with Pompey so far, and getting regular football - as he is - is something that he is enjoying. This regular football has left him with a taste for more, something he might not get at Arsenal next season should he return to London at the end of the season as planned.

Using the loan market to give players 1st team football, or for them to gain experience is a good thing to do but this can also be a 'doubled edged sword' in many ways... When a player goes out on loan they get accustomed to playing regularly, so if they cannot get this when they return to their parent club this can see their patience levels drop and often leads to them moving on anyway - and Traore has hinted that this is something that he 'could' do...

He has said that he is enjoying playing regularly, and wants to do this next season but as Gael Clichy is ahead of him at Arsenal his chances of doing this are not likely, which is fair enough as I rate Clichy as one of the best left sided players around - easily on a par, if not better, than Cashley Cole hence why they allowed him to leave for Chelski. So with Clichy around Traore does not have much of a chance of being involved that much with Arsenal does he?

Traore is enjoying his time with Pompey and although Harry Redknapp has played down our chances of signing him in the summer, as much as I would have been very surprised to see him stay - the thought he might stay never really crossed my mind to be honest - if we can afford him, and that is the real million dollar question, then maybe, just maybe we might not be limited to just one season of Armand Traore at Fratton...

Better still, 'if' we could combine him permanently with Nadir Belhadj down the left side for the long term then we would be onto a winner big time!

Comments

maybe... 'if' we can afford him...its the pitfall of sending players on loan, they get a taste for playing and if they dont when they return they gett itchy feet - and come may traore will have played a hell of alot of games - all being well. the chances of him getting half, maybe even a third of that amount with arsenal next season would seem unlikely...

The last left-back we had on loan from Arsenal was Michael Thomas. He only played only three games in January 1987 but made such a mark he went on to win the championship twice with Arsenal and cups when at Liverpool. He even won two England Caps. But none of it at left back!! Arnand looks a better player too. Keep hoping we can hang on to him and he can improve as a defender. My only worry about Traore and Belhadj is neither of them can really defend.

Niko is capable of playing on the right or in the centre. Personally i'd put him in the centre wher his ability will create chances for Crouch and Defoe. As for signing Traore we can dream but i cant see Arsenal letting him go at a price we could afford.

i would play niko through the middle behind the strikers myself - but that only works in a 5 man midfield as 1 of 2 in the middle we would be far too exposed and lightweight... or play on the right - would certainly keep belhadj and traore if we could!ive said it before £8m and traore and i would tell arsenal they have a deal - and i do rate niko!

I would love traore to play for us - but even if WE wanted it, and HE wanted it, would we be able to afford it? the only way I can see that happening is if we sell someone, and I can only think of four players in our team worth enough to pay for it (Glen Johnson (man u need a new right back...), Crouch and defoe (two england strikers, could go to almost anyone with ease) and Kranjcar (trade for traore?)) other than them, our team aint worth all that much...